Wheel 1 - Wednesday Evenings with Michelle Griffoul (6/8/22-7/13/22), 5-8PM
Dates: Wednesdays, June 8th - July 18th (6 weeks)
Times: 5–8pm
Price: $360 (glaze, 1st bag of clay, firing, instruction and drop-in open studio time included). Tools and additional clay available for purchase at Clay Studio.
Description: Over the course of 6 weeks we will meet in the studio to explore the fundamentals of throwing on the potter’s wheel. From the basics of wedging and centering, to throwing vessels and learning how to glaze them, we will provide you with the tools you need to launch your own ceramic endeavors! Experienced thrower and instructor Michelle Griffoul will teach you to focus on both the process and the product while progressing your skills each week.
Students will be encouraged to explore projects to push their newly learned skills with the support of an encouraging teacher. There will be an optional open studio block available for students who want some independent working time to hone their skills.
Drop-in open studio hours will be available for this course: Students are welcome to come in to Clay Studio during our Open Studio Lab hours to work independently on Sundays from 11AM-4PM, Mondays from 10AM-1PM, Tuesdays from 4PM-8PM, and Fridays from 10AM-1PM. Please note that Open Studio Lab hours are subject to change.
Covid-19 Vaccination Mandate: Starting February 1, 2022, Clay Studio will require all employees, teachers, members and students to be vaccinated in order to enter the studio. You must show your vaccination card, a photo of your vaccination card or your SMART Health Card Record from Ca.gov to a Clay Studio employee on your first day of class. You may also email a photo of the above to info@ClayStudioSB.org.
Instructor: Michelle Griffoul
About your Instructor: Michelle Griffoul fell in love with clay over 50 years ago. In 1970 she began teaching and working as a production potter. Michelle has thrown, pushed, rolled, torn, pit fired, raku fired, high fired, low fired, sun baked, flocked, painted and otherwise stretched the acknowledged limits of clay. The consummate clay artist, she is a classically trained potter with the eye of a painter and the production skills and sensibilities of a manufacturing engineer.
While receiving her B.A. and M.F.A. in ceramics, she spent a year at the International School of Ceramics in Florence, Italy. Through numerous gallery shows and public art commissions, Michelle became recognized as a master of the ceramic arts.
Michelle started Michelle Griffoul Studios (M.G.S.) in 1985, designing and manufacturing custom porcelain tile. (www.michellegriffoul.com). She was one of a handful of female owned tile manufacturing studios in the world. She sold her custom tile and mosaics throughout the US in over 200 tile showrooms as well as in Germany and Japan. M.G.S. won the highest tile design awards in the world in 2014 as well as over $12,500 in prize money.
See her YouTube video “Michelle Griffoul Green” on green manufacturing methods for the tile industry. Her passion for clay has never wavered and she continues to share her extensive knowledge and skills with her students.